JP2002195598A - Air conditioner having drainage pump - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner having a drainage pump which is constituted to reduce its drive noise and to prevent the reverse flow of pumped water. SOLUTION: This air conditioner has the drainage pump provided with a pump case 20 having a suction opening which is dipped in a condensate in its bottom face and a discharge port in its side face, an impeller 43 which is rotatably provided in the case 20, and a motor which drives the impeller 43. The drainage pump is also provided with a noise insulating member 50 which wraps the external surface of the case 20 so as to intercept the drive noise of the pump, and is further extended downward from the lower end of the suction opening and a check valve 60 which is installed to the discharge port to prevent the reverse flow of a discharged condensate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a drainage pump, and more particularly, to an air conditioner having a drainage pump that reduces the driving noise of the drainage pump and prevents the backflow of pumped water. Concerning the harmonic machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a heat exchanger for generating cool air and a blower fan for circulating indoor air. In such an indoor unit, the heat exchanger maintains a cold state through a phase change of the refrigerant flowing inside. Then, the hot air sucked from the indoor space through the driving of the blower fan exchanges heat with the cold heat exchanger to be cooled and then supplied to the indoor space again.

[0003] In addition, in the indoor unit of an air conditioner, condensed water is generated on the surface of the heat exchanger during the process of heat exchange between hot indoor air and the heat exchanger. A condensed water receiver is provided for collecting and discharging the flowing condensed water. The condensed water collected in the condensed water reservoir may be naturally drained through a drain hole formed in a lower portion of the condensed water reservoir. If the water quality is poor, the condensed water accumulated in the condensed water receiver may be forced to drain using a drain pump.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a drain pump mounted in an indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner. As shown,
The drain pump 1 is connected to a pump case 2 having a pump chamber 3 formed therein, an impeller 4 rotatably provided in the pump chamber 3 of the pump case 2, and a pump case 2 for driving the impeller 4. Motor 5.

[0005] The pump case 2 has a suction port 6 formed at a lower portion thereof so as to communicate with the internal pump chamber 3, and a discharge port 7 formed at a side, and the lower suction port 6 is provided with an air conditioner. It is provided so as to be immersed in the surface of the condensed water accumulated in the condensed water receiver 8. A drain pipe 9 for guiding condensed water discharged to the outside of the air conditioner is provided at a discharge port 7 of the pump case 2.
Are connected.

[0006] In the condensed water receiver 8 of the air conditioner to which such a drainage pump 1 is mounted, a water level sensing device 10 for sensing the level of the condensed water and controlling the driving timing of the drainage pump 1 is provided. Is provided.

[0007] The conventional drain pump 1 having such a configuration is as follows.
When the level of the condensed water is detected to be equal to or higher than a predetermined level through the water level sensing device 10, the impeller 4 is driven while the power is applied to the motor 5, and the condensed water is drained by driving the impeller 4. At this time, the condensed water stored in the condensed water receiver 8 is sucked through the suction port 6 of the pump case 2 and discharged to the outside through the discharge port 7 and the drain pipe 9.

However, the conventional drainage pump 1 having such a configuration has an impeller 4 rotating at a high speed in a pump case 2.
Since the condensed water is drained by the drive, the drive noise and the fluid flow noise have become a serious problem. Further, in the conventional drain pump 1, when the level of the condensed water reaches the suction port 6 of the pump case 2 in the process of draining the condensed water, both water and air are sucked into the suction port 6 of the pump case 2. Due to the phenomenon, suction noise became a serious problem.

[0009] Then, the conventional drain pump 1 is provided with a drain pipe 9.
In order to prevent the condensed water receiver 8 from overflowing due to the backflow of the condensed water remaining inside, even when the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, the drain pump 1 is further operated for a predetermined time. There is a problem that energy is lost when the pump 1 is driven.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the noise of the impeller driving inside the pump case and the flow noise of the fluid. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner having a drainage pump that can be quietly driven without being transmitted to the outside of a case.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner having a drainage pump that prevents air from flowing into a suction port of a pump case and prevents suction noise. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner having a drain pump that prevents condensed water remaining in a drain pipe from flowing backward when driving of the drain pump is stopped.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An air conditioner having a drain pump according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following features.
An air conditioner having a drain pump for draining condensed water generated at the time of heat exchange, further comprising a soundproof member provided so as to wrap the outer surface of the drain pump in order to reduce driving noise of the drain pump. .

[0013] The drain pump includes a pump case having a lower part formed with a suction port immersed in the surface of condensed water and a discharge port formed on a side, and the soundproof member is located at a position corresponding to the suction port. An opening is formed, and a portion where the opening is formed further extends below a lower end of the suction port. Then, a check valve for preventing a backflow of the discharged condensed water is provided at the discharge port. The soundproof member is made of an elastic material that can expand and contract so as to be in close contact with the outer surface of the pump case.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the indoor unit of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner to which the present invention is applied has a box-shaped main body case 20 which is installed inside the ceiling 11 and has an elongated length. A ceiling panel 30 surrounding the opening 12 of the ceiling formed for the entry of the main body case 20.

A circulating fan 21 is provided inside the main body case 20 for circulating indoor air. The circulating fan 21 is arranged long in the longitudinal direction of the main body case 20 and rotated by driving a motor 23. After all body case 2
A heat exchanger 22 that is long in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger 22 is provided.

The ceiling panel 30 has a large number of air inlets 31 formed in the lower part of the circulation fan 21 so as to be long in the longitudinal direction of the main body case 20 so that air in the indoor space can flow into the circulation fan 21. A large number of air discharge ports 22 long in the longitudinal direction of the main body case 20 are formed on the opposite side of the suction port 31 so that the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger 22 can be discharged again into the indoor space.

A condensed water receiver 24 is provided below the heat exchanger 22 so as to collect and discharge the condensed water generated in the heat exchange process. A drain pump 40 for forcibly draining the condensed water accumulated in 24 and a water level sensing device 25 for sensing the level of the condensed water and controlling the driving of the drain pump 40 are provided. At this time, the bottom of the condensed water receiver 24 is inclined toward the drain pump 40 so that the condensed water flowing from the heat exchanger 22 can flow toward the drain pump 40 and be collected.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drain pump 40 has a pump case 4 in which a pump chamber 42 is formed.
1 and an impeller 43 rotatably provided in a pump chamber 42 of the pump case 41, and a motor 44 coupled to the pump case 41 to drive the impeller 43. In addition to the basic structure, the impeller 43 further includes a soundproof member 50 provided so as to wrap the outside of the pump case 41, and a check valve 60 for preventing backflow of the condensed water discharged.

More specifically, the pump case 41 includes an upper case 41a and a lower case 41b, and forms a pump chamber 42 for draining fluid through coupling of the upper case 41a and the lower case 41b. In the lower case 41b, a suction port 45 is formed at a lower portion so as to communicate with the internal pump chamber 42, and a discharge port 46 is formed at a side. At this time, the suction port 45 of the lower case 41b is provided so as to be immersed in the surface of the condensed water accumulated in the condensed water receiver 24, and the discharge port 46 guides the discharged condensed water to the outside of the air conditioner. 47 are connected.

A plurality of impellers 43 in the pump chamber 42 discharge condensed water flowing into the center through a suction port 45 of the pump case 41 in a circumferential direction of the pump case 41 in which a discharge port 46 is formed. It comprises a cylindrical centrifugal fan with radially arranged springs. The soundproofing member 50 provided outside the pump case 41 is formed in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the pump case 41 so as to wrap the outer surface of the pump case 41, and is closely attached to the outer surface of the pump case 41 when coupled to the outer surface of the pump case 41. As described above, it is made of elastic or rubber material having a predetermined thickness and elasticity. A drain pipe coupling hole 52 through which the drain pipe 47 penetrates is formed on the side of the soundproof member 50, and the outer diameter of the pump case 41 is formed on the upper part so that the soundproof member 50 can be covered on the outer surface of the pump case 41. A smaller upper opening 53 is formed.
With such a configuration, when the soundproof member 50 is mounted on the outer surface of the pump case 41, first, the drain pipe 47 is fitted through the drain pipe coupling hole 52, and then the upper opening 53 is extended to make the outer surface of the pump case 41 fit. It is possible to cover it. Also, after the mounting, the upper opening 53 is tightened again so that the soundproof member 50 is brought into close contact with the outer surface of the pump case 41, thereby preventing the generation of noise due to vibration and vibration.

The soundproofing member 50 has a lower opening 51 formed at a portion of the pump case 41 where the suction port 45 is formed. The lower end of the lower opening 51 is formed at the suction port 45 of the pump case 41. Further extends a predetermined length (L) below the lower end of the. This is because when the level of the condensed water drops due to the operation of the drain pump 40, even if the level of the condensed water reaches the lower end of the suction port 45 of the pump case 41 on the lower limit line B of the operation of the drain pump 40, the suction port 45 of the pump case 41 is reduced. By preventing the inflow of air into the apparatus, suction noise is not generated. That is, the lower end of the soundproof member 50 plays a role of further extending the length of the suction port 45 to the lower part.

Here, the upper limit line A and the lower limit line B of the condensed water which determine the operation of the drain pump 40 and the time when the operation is stopped are determined by the setting of the water level sensing device 25. Is extended below the condensed water level lower limit line B, so that suction noise is prevented and a reliable soundproofing effect is obtained.

The check valve 60 is connected to the pump case 41
Is provided at the discharge port 46 to prevent the backflow of the condensed water remaining in the drain pipe 47 when the operation of the drain pump 40 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 4, such a check valve 60 pivots to the valve chamber 62 in the middle of the drain pipe 47 so that the flow path is opened when the drain pump 40 is drained, and the flow path is closed when the drain pump 40 is stopped. It consists of a closure plate 61 which is connected as possible. That is, the closing plate 61 is configured to be closed by the backflowing water pressure.

Next, the operation of the air conditioner according to the present invention having such a configuration will be described. When the circulation fan 21 is driven, the room air is sucked into the inside of the main body case 20 through the air suction port 31 of the ceiling panel 30, and the sucked air exchanges heat while passing through the heat exchanger 22 to be cooled. Become.
Then, the cold air that has completed the heat exchange with the heat exchanger 22 is supplied again to the indoor space through the air discharge port 32 of the ceiling panel 30.

In the process in which such an operation is performed,
The condensed water is generated in the heat exchanger 22 because the moisture contained in the inhaled room air is condensed through contact with the surface of the cold heat exchanger 22, and the condensed water flows along the heat exchanger 22 and flows downward. In the condensed water receiver 24. The condensed water accumulated in the condensed water receiver 24 is discharged to the outside by driving the drain pump 40. At this time, the drain pump 40 is
The operation is controlled on the basis of the water level information of the water level sensing device 25 provided in. That is, when the water level of the condensed water reaches the set water level upper limit line A, the water level sensing device 25
4, the drain pump 40 is operated so that when the water level of the condensed water reaches the set water level lower limit line B (generally, the lower end of the pump case), the power is shut off and the drain pump is turned off. The operation of 40 is stopped.

On the other hand, the drain pump 40 drains the condensed water while the impeller 43 rotates at a high speed by the drive of the motor 44. At this time, the condensed water sucked into the suction port 45 of the pump case 41 is supplied to the impeller 4 inside the pump case 41.
The condensed water discharged to the discharge port 46 through 3 is discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 47. The discharged condensed water is smoothly discharged because the closing plate 61 of the check valve 60 is lifted and opened by the pressure of the discharged fluid.

When the above operation is performed, the drainage pump 40 according to the present invention has a soundproof structure in which the driving noise of the impeller 43 and the flow noise of the fluid generated from the inside of the pump case 41 surround the outer surface of the pump case 41. Since the noise is blocked by the member 50, the noise is prevented from flowing out to the outside. Also, when the water level of the condensed water substantially reaches the water level lower limit line B due to the operation of the drain pump 40, suction of air is prevented through the soundproof member 50 extending downward, so that suction noise does not occur.

When the water level of the condensed water reaches the lower limit line B and the operation of the drain pump 40 is stopped, the closing plate 61 of the check valve 60 is closed by the water pressure of the condensed water remaining in the drain pipe 47. Therefore, the backflow of the condensed water remaining in the drain pipe 47 can be prevented.

[0029]

As described above, in the air conditioner having the drain pump according to the present invention, the driving noise of the impeller and the flow noise of the fluid are cut off through the soundproof member provided outside the pump case. This has the effect of quiet driving.

Further, according to the present invention, the effect of extending the suction port is obtained through the soundproof member extending below the lower end of the pump case, so that air is prevented from flowing into the suction port and suction noise is prevented. In addition, according to the present invention, when the driving of the drain pump is stopped, the check valve provided at the discharge port is shut off and the backflow of the condensed water remaining in the drain pipe is prevented, so that the overflow of the condensed water receiver can be prevented. effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration and an installation structure of a conventional drain pump for an air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ceiling-mounted air conditioner to which the drainage pump according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III ′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration and an installation structure of a drain pump for an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a drain pump for an air conditioner according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 20 body case 21 circulation fan 22 heat exchanger 24 condensed water receiver 25 water level sensing device 30 ceiling panel 40 drain pump 41 pump case 42 pump room 43 impeller 44 motor 45 suction port 46 discharge port 47 drain pipe 50 soundproof member 60 check valve 61 Closure plate

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner having a drain pump for draining condensed water generated at the time of heat exchange, comprising: a soundproof member provided so as to wrap an outer surface of the drain pump to reduce driving noise of the drain pump. An air conditioner having a drain pump. 2. The pump according to claim 2, wherein the drain pump includes a pump case having a suction port formed at a lower portion soaked in the surface of condensed water and a discharge port formed at a side, and the soundproof member is opened at a position corresponding to the suction port. The air conditioner having a drain pump according to claim 1, wherein a portion where the opening is formed further extends below a lower end of the suction port. 3. The air conditioner having a drain pump according to claim 2, wherein a check valve for preventing a backflow of the discharged condensed water is provided at the discharge port. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the soundproof member is made of an elastic material that can expand and contract so as to be in close contact with the outer surface of the pump case.